Nine people were arrested so far in the murder case of late Imkongjiba Kichu, who had gone missing on February 21 and was subsequently found dead on February 22 between Satier and New camp, about 10 kilometres away from Chungtia village in Mokokchung district in the run-up to the Nagaland Assembly Election 2023.

A press release issued by the ASP and PRO of Mokokchung on Monday informed that a district-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up to investigate the case headed by the SDPO Mokokchung.

Various technical evidence including CDR, CCTV footage was collected and analysed. In the process, the SIT summoned and examined more than 30 people till the filing of this report.

Based on technical and other evidence, the SIT arrested Chubanichet (31-year-old) – Gypsy driver, Meyalepden (49-year-old), Chepdakmayang (28-year-old), Tongpangtsuba (40-year-old), Lipoktemsu (28-year-old), Imtizachet (27-year-old), Supongsunep (35-year-old), Temsuakum (32-year-old) and Bendangsunep (29-year-old), all from Chungtia village.

Read: Mokokchung: Body of abducted Chungtia resident found, investigation underway

The SIT also conducted Crime Scene Construction and recovered various pieces of evidence from the crime scene including the suspect weapon (wooden stick about 3 feet) with blood stains in the presence of witnesses and the magistrate.

It may be mentioned that the victim is the nephew of ex-MLA Late Nokzenketba, Chungtia village in 28 Koridang AC, Mokokchung.

The victim and his friend, both residents of Chungtia village, had been missing since the evening of 21 February while they were returning home from Chungtiayimsen after attending a funeral when some unrecognised persons attacked the vehicle they were travelling in.

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